Three Rochester City Ballet dancers and members of The Good Pointe Society. From left to right they are Ben Rabe, Kelsey Schneider, and Brandon Alexander.

I have a confession to make. I live across the street from the Dryden Theatre at the Eastman House and had never attended before last Friday. To add insult to injury, my husband and I are big movie buffs – in particular, documentaries and anything made by George Romero.

I went to see La Danse: Le Ballet De L’Opera de Paris with the Good Pointe Society (the young professionals group for the Rochester City Ballet). As I walked across the street, up the house’s long driveway, and through the doors I was amazed at how many people were present.

I thought, “Really? This many people to see a ballet documentary on a Friday night?”

My second thought was, “They have gelato!!!”

After purchasing my movie goodies I walked down the corridor to claim my movie ticket and take my seat with the rest of the Good Pointe Society (GPS). The row of GPS-ers started talking about the theater’s historical ambiance and discussing our predetermined thoughts about the movie.

The showing was presented by the Rochester Labor Film Series. Before the film began, the head of the series gave a short paper on labor issues and the film’s director. As I listened to him speak about labor issues in dance I saw a wave of heads nodding in agreement. He began quoting the movie, “dancers are both the jockey and the race horse” and pointing out that there are few other professions where employees are micromanaged more or have more intense physical demands. The speaker asked the audience to take the art out of the job and see the dancers as employees – taking notice how they interact with the bosses (i.e. choreographers, ballet mistresses, ballet masters).

The next two hours and forty five minutes flew by. It was very hard for me to separate the incredible artistry from the employees as I was asked to do. I kept getting caught up in production clips, often finding myself shifted towards the front of my seat. This could be attributed to the comfy theater chairs but more likely to the intense nature of the film’s matter. I was taken on a journey from start to finish on a handful of performances. All very different in nature: classical, contemporary, and abstract. These pieces were set to everything from symphonic music to techno to single bow strokes on a string instrument.

When the movie ended I starred at the screen in disbelief that it was over and wanting to know more. The most intelligent comment I could muster to add to the GPS conversation was, “Wow…It was just wonderful.” In an effort to get a more technical critique I asked Rochester City Ballet Company members their opinions as we stood in the theater’s atrium. Ben Rabe shared, “Watching it is inspiration. Especially when you hear the teachers saying, ‘you should be thinking about this while you’re taking this move’”. Kelsey Schneider became my partner in crime when she admitted, “I had no idea the theatre was here. It made it more intimate.”

As I walked down the driveway, across the street, and back to my apartment, I had bouncing thoughts. I kept going back to the issue of dancers as labor, the boss/employer interactions, and the beautiful Paris scenes and production clips.

There was one quote that stayed with me until the next morning. I believe is speaks for anyone works in the arts and why I love my job so much. As stated best by the Paris Opera Ballet’s Artistic Director, “dance makes us feel with no explanation.”

Thank you, Dryden Theater, for facilitating this experience for me. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.

Kerry Falwell is the Development Director for the Rochester City Ballet. She is also a member of The Good Pointe Society of the Rochester City Ballet. A young professional’s group created for the advancement of the art of dance.

The Rochester's Young Professionals blog is the place to look for the latest updates on the young professionals scene in Rochester, from career advice to networking events.

Contributors

Kate McGowan is a former Rochester television news reporter now working in the non-profit sector for the nation’s leading children’s charity, Make-A-Wish. She is passionate about inspiring young professionals to use their talents in becoming more actively involved in their communities. Follow her on Twitter at @KateMcGowan

Toni Lynn Arena: I am a digital media specialist by day and a fitness loving, animal activist by night. When I'm not working on self-improvement inside and out, I work with other philanthropists to build awareness within the young professional community and help make a difference.

Andrea Raethka earned a bachelor's in History, Sociology and Women's Studies from the College of Brockport. She is a mother of three young children and is always up for exploring new places for kiddie play dates. She enjoys good food, local shopping and keeping up to date on news, politics and public school issues. Find Andrea on Twitter: @Mango1531.

Ashley Dewey is an internet marketing blogger from Victor who shares thoughts about life and pets.

Audrey Burns is a reader, writer and full-time nostalgist who writes about cultural and social issues in Rochester.

Cynthia Pacia shares thoughts about giving and living in the Rochester area.

Eastman Young Professionals share the latest happenings at George Eastman House.

Habitat for Humanity Young Professionals share life and non-profit experiences, and their journey within Rochester’s changing landscape.

Jason Schwingle is a native of Rochester. He shares his thoughts and ideas on bringing young professionals back to Rochester and to downtown.

Jenna Kempie is the Social Media Chair for the Rochester Young Professionals, and is contributing posts on RYP activities and other helpful insights for young professionals in the community. Jenna enjoys getting out and exploring the area, and talking to people about their Rochester experiences, print and technology - on and offline. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaKempie

Jennifer Galvez Caton is an active arts volunteer who shares her passion and perspective on theater, film, dance and music with young professionals in the Rochester area.

Jerome Nathaniel is a 2011 graduate of the University of Rochester, where he was an executive editor for the Campus Times and a service fellow with the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Now, the Brooklyn native has returned to Rochester as an Americorp Vista at Foodlink, where he's serving as a hunger advocate.

Kayleigh Nutting is a non-profit professional that came to Rochester for college and never left. She is a graduate student and works full time planning special events and fundraising. Follow her as she writes about kicking back, giving back and appreciating the Flower City.

Kristine Caronna, a young professional blogger from Greece, shares her thoughts and updates.

Leah Shearer is a young professional and two-time cancer survivor from Rochester. She shares her unique perspective on all things - the serious, the silly and everything in between.

Luticha Doucette is a student researcher, activist and humanist who sees the world from a seated position. She chronicles life as a disable person seeking a PhD. position in biophysics at Yale or John Hopkins universities, and beyond.

Maria Thomas is the chair of RocCity Coalition, who is passionate about education and the needs of city youth. She writes about various opportunities for young professionals to get involved in the community.

Olga Podzorov is an agent with Nothnagle Realtors. She is a community activist and passionate philanthropist who is committed to working with young professionals. She covers a variety of real estate issues.

Ruth Harper-Rhode, a St. Bonaventure University graduate, does public relations for a local nonprofit. She moved to Rochester from a small city in 2011 and lived on Park Ave before moving to Penfield, where she currently resides.

Terra Keller sends updates from the staff at Foodlink, a popular regional food bank.

Stefanie Schwingle is a Rochester native and has worked at Wegmans Corporation for the past 10 years, but her interests lie in entrepreneurship and communication and her passions include urban living, photography, and cooking. Stefanie lives downtown with her husband and loves everyday life in the city.

Taren Greenidge earned her B.A. in Economics and Political Science, cum laude, in 2007 from Spelman College and her J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 2010. She is an associate at Littler Mendelson, P.C, a U.S.-based international law firm exclusively devoted to representing management in every aspect of labor and employment law. Taren is the president of the Black Young Professionals of Rochester, an auxiliary of the Urban League of Rochester, N.Y., Inc., which targets individuals ages 21 through 40 to foster growth and professional development, to empower members to achieve success and to strive to improve the community.